Hydrodynamic or air levitation system and method of play using the same

ABSTRACT

There is provided a system for hydrodynamic and/or air levitation of an object, such as a ball by a stream of water, and a striking object for hitting the object, and a method of play comprising the system.

BACKGROUND 1. Field of the Invention

The present application is directed to a toy game or novelty item employing a stream of water to suspend a ball in the air.

2. Background of the Art

Toys that comprise suspending a ball in the air with water are known in the art. Some such toys enable a ball to be suspended in the air by using a garden hose to produce a stream of water which is sufficient in pressure to suspend the ball in the air. Other toys enable balls of different sizes to be suspended in the air by a stream of water. Still other toys enable various balls to be placed on a fixed or variable length hard plastic tee of use in games for small children such as T-ball.

What is needed is a toy, wherein a stream of water can be used to suspend a ball which toy can be used in a variety of games.

SUMMARY

A novelty toy or item is provided herein, which toy or item can be a hydrodynamic levitation system comprising, an object for hydrodynamic levitation, a striking object for striking the object for hydrodynamic levitation, and a base which has an entrance aperture and an exit aperture. There is also provided herein an air levitation system comprising the same object for hydrodynamic levitation and the object for striking the object described herein.

There is also provided herein a method of play which comprises providing said hydrodynamic levitation system; connecting a conduit between a closed source of pressurized water and the entrance aperture of the base; opening the source of pressurized water to provide a flow of pressurized water to the entrance aperture of the base, said flow of pressurized water being sufficient to provide a stream of pressurized water from the exit aperture of the base; hydrodynamically levitating the object for hydrodynamic levitation on a portion of the stream of pressurized water; providing a user with the striking object; and, allowing the user to attempt to strike the hydrodynamically levitated object for hydrodynamic levitation with the striking object or with the player's hand.

More specifically, in one non-limiting embodiment, there is provided herein a toy which comprises a base for inserting a common garden hose through which a stream of water suspends a play ball in the air over the top of the base, such as shown in FIG. 2 on the top of the stream of water, preferably on a top edge of the stream of water, and a projectile, fired from a water gun or dart gun, which can be used by a user such as a child to hit the ball suspended in the air by the stream of water.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various embodiments are described below with reference to the drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a view of the contents of the hydrodynamic levitation system according to the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a side perspective view of the base, the conduit connected to a water source with a water stream exiting the exit aperture of the base, wherein the water stream has the object for hydrodynamic levitation levitating on a portion thereof, and the striking object.

FIGS. 3a and 3b depict different configurations for the striking object according to the present disclosure.

FIG. 3c depicts the striking object as a water gun.

FIG. 3d . depicts the striking object as a dart gun.

FIG. 3e depicts the striking object as a foam dart gun.

FIGS. 4a and 4b are each a side perspective view of the base component and object for hydrodynamic levitation, wherein the object for hydrodynamic levitation is employing different modes of hydrodynamically levitating the object on a portion of the stream of presurrized water according to the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a side perspective view of the method of play according to the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a side perspective view of the method of play using a water gun as the striking object.

FIG. 7 is a side perspective view of the method of play using a foam dart gun as the striking object.

FIG. 8 is a side perspective view of the method of play wherein the player uses their hand to hit the levitating object.

Like reference numerals indicate similar parts throughout the figures

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

The present disclosure may be understood more readily by reference to the following detailed description of the disclosure taken in connection with the accompanying drawing figures, which form a part of this disclosure. It is to be understood that this disclosure is not limited to the specific devices, methods, conditions or parameters described and/or shown herein, and that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments by way of example only and is not intended to be limiting of the claimed disclosure.

Also, as used in the specification and including the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include the plural, and reference to a particular numerical value includes at least that particular value, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Ranges may be expressed herein as from “about” or “approximately” one particular value and/or to “about” or “approximately” another particular value. When such a range is expressed, another embodiment includes from the one particular value and/or to the other particular value. Similarly, when values are expressed as approximations, by use of the antecedent “about,” it will be understood that the particular value forms another embodiment. It is also understood that all spatial references, such as, for example, horizontal, vertical, top, upper, lower, bottom, left and right, are for illustrative purposes only and can be varied within the scope of the disclosure.

The term “hydrodynamic” as used herein refers to the motion of fluids, and can include the motion of any fluid. Some examples of fluids include, for example, water, oil, solutions, e.g., homogenous solutions, or heterogenous solutions, emulsions, in particular in the form of a W/O, O/W, W/O/W, O/W/O emulsion, PIT emulsion, Pickering emulsion, emulsion with a low oil content, micro- or nanoemulsion, dispersions, a gel (including hydrogel, hydrodispersion gel, oleogel), a solution e.g. in oil or silicone oil, and combinations of any of the above. Preferably the fluid is water. The water can be colored to any desirable color or effect for either easy visibility or aesthetic effect. The motion of the fluid can be continuous, interrupted, or increasing or decreasing in intensity, but most preferably is constant during operation.

The term “levitation” as used herein refers to the process by which an object is held aloft, without mechanical support, in a relatively stable position. For example, as applied to the present disclosure, the term levitation refers to the process of the object 110, e.g., a ball being held aloft on the top of the stream of water 130 in a relatively stable position. In another embodiment herein “levitation” as used herein refers to the process by which an object is held aloft without mechanical support by the use of air, preferably pressurized air, in a relatively stable position.

The expression “hydrodynamic levitation” as used herein refers to the process by which an object 110 is suspended aloft on the top of a stream of a fluid 130, e.g., water, more preferably on the edge of the top of the stream of fluid, such suspension being provided by the motion of the water striking the object from underneath such that it is propelled in a direction counter to the force of gravity from the water exiting the base 150, and is maintained at a certain distance from the base depending on external factors such as the pressure of the fluid exiting the base, and the weight and size of the object being suspended, and in view of the other embodiments as are described herein.

Referring to FIG. 1, there is provided a hydrodynamic levitation system 100 (“the system 100”), which in this case includes an object for hydrodynamic levitation 110, an object for striking the object for hydrodynamic levitation 120, and the base 150 having an entrance aperture 160 and an exit aperture 170.

Although the invention is described herein as related to a baseball, e.g., T-ball type configuration, the invention can be used in conjunction with any type of game, toy or novelty item. Some additional examples may be softball, cricket, soccer, croquet, badminton, handball, hurling, lacrosse, polo, racquet ball, squash, stickball, table tennis, volleyball, water polo, and similar games.

The hydrodynamic levitations system 100 can be a kit that contains the object for hydrodynamic levitation 110, the object for striking the object for hydrodynamic levitation 120 and the base 150. Preferably the kit can comprise a ball 110, a bat 120 for striking the ball 110 and a base 150. The ball 110, bat 120 and base 150 can comprise any embodiment herein described for the components 110, 120 and 150, respectively.

Referring now to FIG. 2, there is provided a conduit 140, wherein the entrance aperture 160 is capable of connection to the conduit 140, and wherein the conduit 140 is capable of transport of water from a water source (WS), preferably pressurized water. Although The water 130 can be obtained from any water source or generating means. Such a pressurized water source (WS) can be a residential or commercial water line in a home or business and can be connected to the hydrodynamic levitation system 100 by the conduit 140. The pressure of the pressurized water 130 from the water source WS can be of any desired pressure, but in one embodiment can be the normal operating pressure of residential water supply in the United States. In one embodiment herein, the pressurized water can be at a pressure of from about 20 to about 80 pounds per square inch (psi), preferably from about 25 to about 75 psi and most preferably from about 40 to about 60 psi.

In an alternate embodiment herein, the conduit 140 is capable of transport of air, preferably pressurized air from an air source, preferably a compressor. Although the air can be obtained from any pressurized air generating means. Such pressurized air can have a pressure of anywhere from 5 pounds per square inch (psi) to about 50 psi, preferably from 10 psi to 40 psi, and most preferably from 15 psi to 30 psi.

In another embodiment herein, the flow rate of water exiting the exit aperture 170 must be at a sufficient flow rate to facilitate and enable the hydrodynamic levitation of the object 110 at a desired height. While the flow rate of water can vary depending on a multitude of factors, such as temperature, pressure, length of the conduit, diameter of the conduit, water pressure, size of the object 110, weight of the object 110 and the like, in general to sustain a height of water of from 24 inches to 48 inches above the base 150, at a water pressure range from 20 to 80 psi, the flow rate of water out of exit aperture at standard temperature and pressure, employing a 100 foot length, ⅝ inch diameter garden hose, wherein the object is a hollow T-ball 9 inches in circumference, weighing 0.75 oz, to hydrodynamically levitate the object flow rate can be from 5 gallons per minute (gpm) to 15 gpm, preferably from 7 gpm to 12 gpm. The use of pressurized air for an air levitation system using the same components as the water levitation system herein, absent the water, can have all of the other features and embodiments of the water-levitation system described herein.

The water line can be accessed via a spigot within or without the location of the residential or commercial water line and can include as some non-limiting examples, a spigot connected to the outside of a residence, such as a garden hose connection, or to a spigot such as that found in a residential sink/faucet apparatus, and a direct connection to a water line in a home. Preferably the water line is a spigot on the outside of a residential home for connection to a garden hose.

The conduit 140 can be any means for transmitting water, such as a hose or pipe, and which can optionally be connected to a pump for pressurizing the water or providing supplementary pressure to the pressurized water 130. The conduit 140 can be a garden hose, pool hose, vacuum hose, firehose, chemical transfer hose, steam hose, food and/or beverage hose, abrasive material hose, air hose, and the like. In one preferable embodiment the conduit 140 is a garden hose of any suitable diameter, such as for example any of a ½ inch, ⅝ inch, ¾ inch or 1-inch garden hose. In an air levitation system, the conduit 140 can preferably be an air hose, which is connected to a pressurized air source, preferably an air compressor.

The base 150 which can be sized in any desirable manner, such as, but not limited to a dome, ball, cylinder, pipe, disc, or any one of a three-dimensional triangle, rectangle, square, and cube. The function of the base 150 being to divert the fluid 130, preferably, water 130, preferably pressurized water 130, to a direction suitable for the method of play employed by a user as described herein. The base 150 can be empty or solid, and in one embodiment can be filled with pressurized water 130 prior to or during the operation of the system 100. Preferably the base 150 is hollow and is filled with pressurized water 130 arriving through conduit 140 from pressurized water source WS so as to provide the base 150 with sufficient weight to provide for a relatively stable source of pressurized water 130. In one separate embodiment the base 150 can be hollow and filled with pressurized air instead of a fluid such as water, wherein the air is used to blow the object 110 up above the base 150 by the pressure of such air. In either embodiment of a hydrodynamic levitation system or air levitation system, the base can have a separate section on the bottom of the base for weighing the base down to provide for its stability, especially in the case of the air levitation system. Such a separate section can be filled with a weighted substance such as sand, water, or metal, although any substance with sufficient weight to hold the base in a relatively stable position is suitable.

Preferably the base 150 is a dome with an entrance aperture 160 and an exit aperture 170. The base 150 has a base bottom 155 which is preferably flat so as to enable it to lie in a relatively stable fashion on the ground, and the base 150 has a base top 157 which is located at the top central section of the base 150. The above discussed separate section on the bottom of the base for providing the weighted substance can be located beneath the base bottom 155 and preferably itself has a flat bottom, or any of the other shapes of base 150 or base bottom 155 described herein.

The base 150 can also have a differently shaped bottom 155 such as a bottom 155 which is curved or rounded, such that the base can be placed in an accommodating hole which can be concave or rounded for better support of the base 150. Alternatively, the bottom 155 can contain mechanisms for adhering the base to the surface on which the base 150 is placed. For example, the base bottom can have a single spike, several spikes, or a series of spikes which are evenly or randomly placed over the bottom of the base. In a more specific embodiment, the spike(s) can have a length of from ⅛ of an inch to 6 inches, preferably from 1% of an inch to 3 inches. In one embodiment herein the base bottom 155 can have the section for the weighted substance underneath the base bottom 155, and then have the aforementioned mechanisms for securing the base to the surface underneath the section for the weighted substance on the bottom thereof.

The entrance aperture 160 to base 150 can be located anywhere on the base 150, but in one embodiment is located along and parallel to the ground on which the base bottom 155 lies, and in one embodiment the orientation of the base entrance aperture 160 is at a right angle to the orientation of the exit aperture 170 so as to allow the conduit 140, in one non-limiting embodiment to be located on the ground while simultaneously feeding pressurized fluid, e.g., water 130 into the base 150, for example, by a garden hose as set out above. Alternatively, the conduit 140 is an air hose which feeds pressurized air into base entrance aperture 160 from a source of pressurized air, which is not described herein but would be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art, e.g., an air compressor or the like.

In one non-limiting embodiment the exit aperture 170 is smaller than the entrance aperture 160 so as to provide for an increased water pressure of the pressurized water 130 as it passes through the base 150. In one embodiment the exit aperture 170 is at least 10% smaller, preferably at least 20% smaller and most preferably at least 30% smaller, wherein the upper end of such ranges can in one embodiment be about 75%.

In another embodiment herein, the base 150 is not hollow but rather has interior piping 159 which can serve to direct incoming pressurized water 130, or alternatively pressurized air, from the entrance aperture 160 to the exit aperture 170. The interior piping 159 can be of any desired configuration. In one embodiment the interior piping 159 is set at a right angle as is depicted in FIG. 2, but interior piping 159 can also be of any other suitable configuration such as an ascending spiral.

In one embodiment herein, the base 150 has interior piping for directing both incoming pressurized air and incoming pressurized fluid such as water, such that the invention as described herein can levitate the object 110 by either air or hydrodynamically by water, or both simultaneously. Alternatively, the levitation can occur with air and can be combined with hydrodynamic levitation for aesthetic effect, e.g., a sprinkler effect of water. For example, the air levitation can levitate the object 110 as described herein using the interior piping 159, and any area surrounding the interior piping 159 in the base 150 can be hollow and the base 150 can have perforations on the top of the base 150 such that water fed to the base 150 through an alternate conduit 140 which is fed with a fluid such as water, and which exits the perforations at the top of the base in jets of water to provide an aesthetic sprinkler type effect.

The base 150 is connected to the conduit 140 by any suitable means, but can in one non-limiting embodiment be connected by a male/female connector 180 which feeds the entrance aperture 160 with the water 130, preferably, pressurized water 130 from the conduit 140. The base 150, in addition to the male/female connector 180, can have connected thereto, or to the conduit 140, an entrance valve 190, which can control the feed of pressurized water 130 into the entrance aperture 160. The pressure of pressurized water 130 can be varied by the entrance valve 190 to provide for different modes of employing the pressurized water 130 in the methods described herein and below, i.e., to achieve different height (h) of pressurized water 130.

The base 150 can have a cylindrical portion 165 extending out therefrom which has an exterior surface 167 thereon and interior surface 169 therein. The cylindrical portion 165 can preferably be orientated along the same plane as the base bottom 155, although any other orientation can be envisioned as such as an angular, or perpendicular orientation relative to the base bottom 155. The end of the cylindrical portion 165 facing away from the base 150 is open which provides for the entrance aperture 160.

In one embodiment, the male/female connector 180 is such that the male or female portion of the connector 180 is located on the exterior surface 167 or the interior surface 169 of the cylindrical portion 165 and the opposing male or female portion of the connector 180 is present on the respective opposite surface, i.e., the respective interior or exterior surface of the end of the conduit 140 in order to provide for a respective threaded connection of the conduit 140 to the base 150 through the connector 180 by connection of the conduit 140 at the cylindrical portion 165 of the base 150.

In one embodiment, the connector 180 is provided by the interior surface 169 of the end of the protruding cylinder 165 overlapping the exterior surface of the end of the conduit 140 by a common threaded connection. The opposite configuration is also envisioned wherein the interior surface of the end of the conduit 140 overlaps the exterior surface 167 of the protruding cylinder 165.

In one specific embodiment the conduit 140 is a garden hose as described herein, which garden hose has a male portion of the connector 180 on the outside surface of the end of the garden hose, e.g., a threaded connection, and the interior surface 169 of the cylindrical portion 165 has a female portion of the connector 180, e.g., when the two are attached they provide for a threaded connection 180, by means of the protruding cylinder 165, which male portion of the garden hose is threaded onto female portion interior surface 169 of the connector 180 in the cylindrical portion 165 in order to provide for connection to the garden hose. In another embodiment the portions of the connector 180 are reversed in position.

In one embodiment of the system 100 herein, the exit aperture 170 can have an exit valve 195 to control the flow of pressurized water out of the exit aperture 170. In one embodiment, the system 100 can have either or both of the entrance valve 190 and the exit valve 195.

The base 150 can be constructed of any suitable material which can withstand the pressure of the pressurized water 130, as set out above, and can in some non-limiting embodiments, encompass common plastic materials such as polyolefins (polyethylene, polypropylene, ethylene-vinyl-acetate, etc.), styrene-derived polymers such as polystyrene (PS), acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS), styrene-butadiene (SB), etc. and plasticized polyvinyl chloride (PVC)

In one embodiment herein, the pressurized water 130 can be of a pressure sufficient to hydrodynamically levitate the object for hydrodynamic levitation 110 at a height (h) above the base 150, such as at a height at from about the waist to the upper chest of a user (not shown) of the system 100. Such a height can be a factor of the pressure of the pressurized water 130 as received from the water source WS or the use of any one or more of the entrance valve(s) 190, the exit valve 195, the size of the entrance aperture 160, exit aperture 170. The height (h) can thus be varied by the aforementioned factors so as to be able to altered to the varying height of different users of the system 100 so as to enable the varying users to each be able to strike the object for hydrodynamic levitation 110 with the striking object 120. The same can be accomplished by varying the air pressure in an air levitation system. Some suitable, but non-limiting heights (h) above the base 150 can be from about 18 inches to about 48 inches, preferably from about 24 inches to about 36 inches, although heights below or above those noted are envisioned, depending on the method of play and/or the game envisioned to be played.

The object for hydrodynamic levitation 110 can be any object that can be supported by the pressurized water 130 above the base 150 and can be any type of ball, such as the non-limiting examples of a t-ball, a whiffle-ball, a baseball, a soccer ball, a tennis ball, a racquet ball, a golf ball, a hollow blow molded ball, a foam ball, or any kind of toy ball of varying size. In one embodiment, the system can include multiple balls.

Referring to FIGS. 3a and 3b , the striking object 120 can be any object suitable for striking the aforementioned object for hydrodynamic levitation 110, specifically a ball 110, and can include the non-limiting examples of a bat 110, such as where the bat is shaped to a specific aesthetic design, like that of a character, or animal, bird or fish, such as in FIG. 3a the non-limiting example of a shark-shaped bat. In another embodiment, the striking object 120 can be a baseball bat shaped bat, such as is shown in FIG. 3b , and can preferably be a child's baseball ball, more preferably a hollow child's baseball bat such as a plastic t-ball bat. The bat 120 can have a handle area 220 and a hitting area 240, which a user (not shown) can use for holding the bat 120 in an attempt to hit the objection for hydrodynamic levitation 110, e.g., a ball by the hitting area 240.

Referring to FIGS. 3c-3e the object for striking the object for hydrodynamic levitation 120 can alternatively be a projectile 121 fired from a water gun 122 or a dart gun 123. The water 121 fired from a water gun 122 can be a projectile 121 as depicted in FIG. 3c . The dart gun 123 can fire a plastic dart 121 and/or a foam dart 121, the dart can also have a suction cup tip 124. In one embodiment as shown in FIG. 3d the dart 121 is a plastic dart 121 with a suction cup tip 124, and in another embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3e , the dart 121 is a foam dart 121, optionally with a suction cup tip (not shown) fired from a foam dart gun 123.

Referring to FIGS. 4a and 4b , the pressurized water 130 can be varied in height (h) as indicated herein above. The variation in the height (h) of the pressurized water 130 can result in different modes of employing the object for hydrodynamic levitation 110 in the pressurized water 130 exiting the exit aperture 170.

More specifically, in FIG. 4a at a lower pressure of the pressurized water, e.g. a pressure below the pressure of the water source (WS), the water exiting the base 150 at the exit aperture 170 is such that it can support the object for hydrodynamic levitation 110 placing the object 110 in the top center 335 of the pressurized water 130 exiting the exit aperture 170.

While not wishing to be bound by theory the placement of the object 110 in the top center of the pressurized water stream 335 enables the object 110 to be stabilized since the object 110 becomes enclosed in the pressurized water 130, or pressurized air, and if the ball moves out of the top center 335 the force of the pressurized water or air on the side of the ball resists the movement so as to return the object to the top center 335 of the pressurized water or air stream 130. Such a method of hydrodynamic levitation of object 110 can preferably be suitable for lower heights (h) and lower water pressure and/or smaller objects 110, such as smaller balls. However, it is to be understood herein that any of the ball objects 110 described herein can be used by any of methods described herein.

Alternatively, as depicted in FIG. 4b the ball 110 can be hydrodynamically levitated at a higher height (h) using pressurized water 130, e.g. at a pressure exactly at or above the pressure of the water source (WS), the water exiting the base 150 at the exit aperture 170 is such that it can support the object for hydrodynamic levitation 110 by placing the object 110 in an off-center position 360 to the flow of the pressurized water 130 exiting the exit aperture 170. The same effect can be accomplished using an air pressure system.

While not wishing to be bound by theory the placement of the object 110 in the off-center position 360 of the pressurized water or air stream enables the object 110 to be stabilized since the object 110 is held in place. This holding in place is thought to be due to the water or air moving up and in an arc over the ball and then in the case of the air or water, down at an angle away from the ball which cause the ball to spin in a direction away from the stream of pressurized water or air 130, which force of spinning according to Newtons law, intrinsically results in an opposing force of the ball moving up and towards the arced stream of water or air over the ball. Thus, the ball is held in place. Such a stream is well suited to hydrodynamically levitating or air levitating any type of ball described herein but can specifically hydrodynamically levitate or air levitate larger objects 110 than described in the aforementioned alternative method. In this method of operation of the system 100 herein, a user (not shown) can initiate the method of employing the system by pushing the object 110 into the pressurized water or air exiting the base at a 90-degree angle to the base.

Referring now to FIGS. 5-7, there is also provided herein a method of play, e.g., a toy or game, comprising providing the hydrodynamic levitation system 100 described herein and employing the striking object 120 of the system in an attempt to strike the object(s) for hydrodynamic levitation 110 and/or air levitation as shown in FIG. 5. Alternately, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the striking object can be a projectile 121 fired from a water gun 122 or a dart gun 123 to fire water 121 or a hard projectile such as a plastic 121 and/or foam dart 121.

In one embodiment herein the method of play as shown in FIGS. 5-7 the method can comprise providing a hydrodynamic and/or air levitation system 100 comprising an object for hydrodynamic and/or air levitation 110, a striking object 120 (FIG. 5) or a projectile 121 (FIGS. 6-7) fired from a water gun 122 or dart gun 123, either of which is for striking the object for hydrodynamic and/or air levitation 110, and a base 150 which has an entrance aperture 160 and an exit aperture 170; connecting at least one conduit 140 between a closed source of pressurized water WS (as shown in FIG. 2) and/or air and the entrance aperture 160 of the base 150; opening the source of pressurized water and/or air 130 to provide a flow of pressurized water and/or air to the entrance aperture 160 of the base 150, said flow of pressurized water and/or air being sufficient to provide a stream of pressurized water and/or air 430 from the exit aperture 170 of the base; hydrodynamically and/or air levitating the object for hydrodynamic and/or air levitation 110 on a portion of the stream of pressurized water and/or air; providing a user 420 with the striking object 120 (FIG. 5) or the water gun 122 or dart gun 123 for firing a projectile 121 (FIGS. 6-7); and, allowing the user 120 to attempt to strike the hydrodynamically and/or air levitated object for hydrodynamic and/or air levitation 110 with the striking object 120 (FIG. 5) or with the projectile 121 from the water gun 122 or dart gun 123 (FIGS. 6-7) to hit the levitating object 110.

In a further embodiment herein, the method of play can further comprise varying the water pressure and/or air of the pressurized water 130 and/or air to the base 150, in order to provide the stream of pressurized water and/or air 430 at a height which is suitable for the user 420.

In a further embodiment of the method of play the step of hydrodynamically and/or air levitating the object for hydrodynamic and/or air levitation 110 can comprise placing the object for hydrodynamic and/or air levitation 110 on the top center position of the stream 440 of the stream of pressurized water 430 so as to put the object for hydrodynamic and/or levitation into a hydrodynamically and/or air levitated state for the user 420 to attempt to strike with the striking object 120 as shown in FIG. 5, or the projectile 121 as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 from the water gun 122 (FIG. 6) or the dart gun 123 (FIG. 7).

In an alternate embodiment the method of play can comprise not having the striking object for striking the object for hydrodynamic levitation 120 and where instead the player uses the player's hand to strike the object for hydrodynamic levitation, such as is depicted in FIG. 8. It will be understood herein that when this method of play is employed, the striking object can be absent.

As shown in FIGS. 5-8, in a yet further embodiment of the method of play, the step of hydrodynamically and/or levitating the object for hydrodynamic levitation 110 can comprise placing of the object 110 in an off-center 445 location of the pressurized stream of water and/or air 430 by placing the object 110 anywhere, preferably above the base and below the top of the stream, but perpendicularly into a side portion 450 of the stream 430, and releasing the object 110.

Such a method of play can comprise any one or more of t-ball, whiffle-ball, baseball, soccer, tennis, racquet ball, and golf. Most preferably the method is one of playing T-ball.

While the above description contains many specifics, these specifics should not be construed as limitations of the invention, but merely as exemplifications of preferred embodiments thereof. Those skilled in the art will envision many other embodiments within the scope and spirit of the invention as defined by the claims appended hereto.

Where this application has listed the steps of a method or procedure in a specific order, it may be possible, or even expedient in certain circumstances, to change the order in which some steps are performed, and it is intended that the particular steps of the method or procedure claim set forth herein below not be construed as being order-specific unless such order specificity is expressly stated in the claim.

While the preferred embodiments of the devices and methods have been described in reference to the environment in which they were developed, they are merely illustrative of the principles of the inventions. Modification or combinations of the above-described assemblies, other embodiments, configurations, and methods for carrying out the invention, and variations of aspects of the invention that are obvious to those of skill in the art are intended to be within the scope of the claims. 

1. A hydrodynamic levitation system comprising an object for hydrodynamic levitation, a striking object for striking the object for hydrodynamic levitation, and a base which has an entrance aperture and an exit aperture.
 2. The hydrodynamic levitation system of claim 1, further comprising a conduit and wherein the entrance aperture is capable of connection to the conduit, and wherein the conduit is capable of transport of water obtained from a water source.
 3. The hydrodynamic levitation system of claim 1, wherein the exit aperture is smaller than the entrance aperture.
 4. The hydrodynamic levitation system of claim 1, wherein the exit aperture has a valve which controls the feed of a stream of pressurized water from the water source out of the exit aperture.
 5. The hydrodynamic levitation system of claim 2, wherein the water source comprises a stream of pressurized water which is of a pressure sufficient to hydrodynamically levitate the object for hydrodynamic levitation at a height above the base and wherein the stream of pressurized water can be varied such that it is able to be altered in height so as to be able to be struck by users of varying height with the striking object.
 6. The hydrodynamic levitation system of claim 1, wherein the striking object is a projectile.
 7. The hydrodynamic levitation system of claim 6, wherein the projectile is propelled from a water gun or a dart gun.
 8. The hydrodynamic levitation system of claim 7, wherein the dart gun fires darts made of foam and/or plastic.
 9. The hydrodynamic levitation system of claim 8, wherein the darts contain a suction cup tip.
 10. A method of play comprising: providing a hydrodynamic levitation system comprising an object for hydrodynamic levitation, a striking object for striking the object for hydrodynamic levitation, and a base which has an entrance aperture and an exit aperture; connecting a conduit between a closed source of pressurized water and the entrance aperture of the base; opening the source of pressurized water to provide a flow of pressurized water to the entrance aperture of the base, said flow of pressurized water being sufficient to provide a stream of pressurized water from the exit aperture of the base; hydrodynamically levitating the object for hydrodynamic levitation on a portion of the stream of pressurized water; providing a user with the striking object; and, allowing the user to attempt to strike the hydrodynamically levitated object for hydrodynamic levitation with the striking object.
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein during or after the opening step, the water pressure is varied to provide a height of the stream of pressurized water which is suitable for the user.
 12. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of hydrodynamically levitating the object for hydrodynamic levitation comprises placing the object for hydrodynamic levitation in a top center position of the stream of pressurized water.
 13. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of hydrodynamically levitating the object for hydrodynamic levitation comprises placing the object in an off-center location in the top of the pressurized stream.
 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the placing of the object in an off-center location in the top of the pressurized stream comprises placing the object perpendicularly into a side portion of the stream of pressurized water and releasing the object.
 15. The method of claim 10, wherein the striking object is a projectile.
 16. The method of claim 15, wherein the projectile is propelled from a water gun or a dart gun.
 17. The method of claim 16 wherein the dart gun fires darts made of foam and/or plastic.
 18. An air levitation system comprising an object for air levitation, a striking object for striking the object for air levitation, and a base which has an entrance aperture and an exit aperture.
 19. The air levitation system of claim 18 wherein the striking object is a projectile fired from a water gun or a dart gun.
 20. A method of play comprising: providing a hydrodynamic levitation system comprising an object for hydrodynamic levitation, and a base which has an entrance aperture and an exit aperture; connecting a conduit between a closed source of pressurized water and the entrance aperture of the base; opening the source of pressurized water to provide a flow of pressurized water to the entrance aperture of the base, said flow of pressurized water being sufficient to provide a stream of pressurized water from the exit aperture of the base; hydrodynamically levitating the object for hydrodynamic levitation on a portion of the stream of pressurized water; and, allowing the user to attempt to strike the hydrodynamically levitated object for hydrodynamic levitation with the user's hand. 